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C36 Mk I Upgrades
26" Wide Screen TV Installation
Deja Vu is my 1991 Cat 36. Time spent aboard is split between daysailing off Marina del Rey and just hanging out with friends. As we all know, the lowered dinette in the salon makes a great "pit sofa". What I needed was a TV Upgrade. I've been through the 13' TVs and decided that biggest is best. My plan was to turn the shelf area adjacent to the game table into the TV cabinet. I also wanted to integrate my interior Bose stereo speakers for a clean look. My measurements told me that after removing only the middle shelf, I had a space which was 36 1/2" wide and 20 1/2" high. This would leave the top shelf for DVD storage, etc. Also, the width is compromised by the starboard chain plate strut which cuts off about 3' of useable space. In the end, I decided that a 26" widescreen was the biggest I could fit. Lord knows I tried for a 32", but it would have required removing the top shelf as well. I was pleasantly surprised to find that High Def 26" LCD TVs have dropped below $ 1,000 . I picked up a black Sharp Aquos. I have seen bulkhead mounted TVs, but I always worried about "hanging" that much weight on a bouncy boat. My installation allows the TV to actually sit on the lower shelf. The only support needed is to keep it upright. This just feels safer to me. The installation instructions are rather detailed, so just email me if you'd like them. I am extremely pleased with the way this turned out. It has really improved Movie Night aboard Deja vu. Now for some microwave popcorn.
Microwave Installation
This was an easy installation. I just removed the cabinet sliding doors and carefully sawed the teak on the bottom front where the tracks run to fit in the microwave. Varnished it and popped in the microwave. A short-run appliance extension cord goes through the aft cabinet wall through the aft portion of the cabinet and down through a hole in the cabinet bottom to the aft port outlet. All wiring is thus concealed.
Cleaning Supply Cupboard
I found a use for the otherwise useless pass-through to the aft cabin. I just constructed a back and side wall from Starboard lumber and attached it in the aft cabin. Now I have a spot to keep all the cleaning supplies, polishes, etc where they are away from any foodstuffs.
Galley Lighting Upgrade
To improve the general lighting level in the galley, I switched out the puny fluorescents with dual bulb longer units. The first one went so easily (10 minutes) that the light over the stove and in the head are next.
